TDA is the best home for Mbabazi- Besigye
FDC flagbearer Dr Kiiza Besigye (C) flanked by FDC chairman Ambassador Waswa Birigwa (L) and the party spokesperson Ssemujju Nganda (R), addressing the media on Friday at TDA head office in Naguru.
Former FDC leader Dr Kiiza Besigye has called for unity and calm among members of the opposition following the delayed decision by The Democratic Alliance (TDA) on who to front as their flagbearer in the 2016 elections.
According to Dr Besigye, FDC as a party and other TDA members made a commitment to support any candidate who will be selected as the alliance’s flagbearer in the 2016 presidential race.
“We committed to support any candidate who comes out TDA as a flagbearer. But that does not mean that we would not raise issues about who is selected. That’s why we are in the process of reaching a consensus. The reservations we expressed on the candidature of Hon. Amama were reservations that were made frankly and in good spirit,” he said.
He made the remarks while addressing the media at TDA offices in Naguru, Kampala on Friday.
Dr Besigye added that bickering among the members only serves to create disunity in the opposition to the advantage of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
“It is a wrong approach to turn guns on each other. Anyone doing so is doing it on behalf of Museveni. The reason we have Mbabazi amidst us is because of what is happening in his party where he can't be tolerated. Since Mbabazi is looking for a home, this (TDA) is the best home,” said Dr Besigye.
He further noted that the struggle for reforms will end in a transitional process which will have to achieve four things among which include reviewing the constitution, rebuilding state institutions which according to him are under the captivity of the NRM, further enlightening the citizenry on the new order and lastly having free and fair elections.
Dr Besigye’s remarks come in the wake of reports of some FDC members accusing TDA of bending the rules in order to accommodate Mr Mbabazi.
Sources close to the Alliance have indicated that both the FDC flag bearer Dr Kizza Besigye, and former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi are favored candidates. TDA has since Friday been locked in a series of meetings in which a joint candidate was expected to be announced.
One of the meetings in which the candidates were supposed to campaign before the selection committee was disrupted by FDC party loyalists led by MPs Jack Sabiiti, William Nzoghu, Odonga Otto, and Patrick Amuriat Oboi.
They had gone to demand FDC’s withdrawal from TDA coalition following media reports which quoted a TDA report rating Dr Besigye below Mr Mbabazi and DP president Norbert Mao.
